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Reds Give Dodgers Blues

The Dodgers caught some flak at the trading deadline when they failed to pull the trigger on a move to help their mediocre offense. They should probably steel themselves for more of the same after getting shut out for the third straight game. Aaron Harang struck out eight in eight innings in Cincinnati's 1-0 win and extended the Dodger blues to heights unseen in four decades. The 1966 Dodgers got shut out three times in a row twice, once in the regular season and again over the final three games of the World Series against the Orioles. Will the Dodgers be heading to the Series themselves? It's not looking too good. Yesterday's loss dropped the losers of six straight into fourth place behind the Rockies.

After playing one of the strangest games in memory on Tuesday, the Rockies settled in for a more routine Coors Field slaughter Wednesday. They devoured Yovani Gallardo for 12 hits and 11 runs in two and two-thirds innings en route to a 19-4 win. That made it a clean sweep of the Brewers who hold onto first place in the Central only because their four-game losing streak has coincided with one for the Cubs. Timing is everything, as it is for the underrated Rockies. The NL West lead has belonged to the Dodgers, Padres and Diamondbacks at one time or another without any of them seizing it by the throat. If the Rockies, winners of eight of the last 11, keep playing well they may get to laugh last and best.

There was an October atmosphere at Shea Stadium. Moises Alou had broken a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the eighth and Flushing was rocking in hopes of beating their rivals. But Billy Wagner felt like the pressure wasn't great enough. The Mets closer had loaded the bases with Braves in the ninth with no one out and a one run lead. If he blew this one, giving the Braves the first two games of the series, it would have been treated as if he'd blown a playoff game. Jeff Francoeur grounded into a fielder's choice, though, and Andruw Jones followed up with a tailor-made double play ball and the Mets had a 4-3 win. In other Mets news Pedro Martinez got bombed in his first rehab start, five runs and six hits, but didn't compain of injury. So far, so good then.

Jose Contreras finally figured out a way to win a game. He threw two innings of relief and picked up the W when Juan Uribe homered in the bottom of the 13th to beat the Indians 6-4. It was his first appearance since the Yankees massacred him in the Bronx last week and his first win since June 18th.